The Madrid Travel Guide

Palabras Pintadas – Madrid through the eyes of artists and writers

The exhibition “Palabras Pintadas”(literally, Painted Words), which opens today, provides 70 views of Madrid through the eyes of both painters and authors, from the 16th century right through to today. I simply love the idea: you match 70 works of art – sketches and paintings – to the words of famous authors who have written about Madrid. Artists include: Sánchez Coello, Francisco Bayeu, Houasse, Sorolla and Antonio López García (displayed above); whilst writers include: Francisco Umbral, Gustavo Aldolfo Bécquer and George Borrow.

There are 3 central themes of the exhibition, “The clearness of the sky”, “The spirit of the water” and “The confusion of the ground” which are influenced by the famous Madrid dramatist Tirso de Molina who wrote: “Though there is confusion in Madrid, its sky has much clarity”. One of the authors is Ernest Heminway who wrote, in Death in the Afternoon: “To go to bed at night in Madrid marks you as a little queer. For a long time your friends will be a little uncomfortable about it. Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.”

This flash movie gives a brief glimpse as to which paintings are on display. The exhibition is organised by the Fundación Caja Madrid and goes on until the 30th June. Entrance is Free.